Vince Wilfork gets Franchised
A statement from the Patriots: "A long-term agreement with Vince Wilfork has been the team's top contractual priority for some time. Unfortunately, despite numerous conversations and proposals, the goal has not yet been realized. Vince is a tremendous player for our team and remains a significant part of our future plans. It is because of Vince's importance to this organization that we have assigned the franchise designation as we continue to work toward a long-term agreement. We are hopeful that Vince will remain a Patriot for many years to come."
about 2 years ago
Richard Hill
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Okay, after thinking for a while...
…Vince has been tagged with the “non-exclusive franchise tag.” That means that Wilfork will be allowed to visit other teams and get offers (click here for more). This is possibly the best thing the Patriots could do right now (bar signing him long term). By tagging him non-exclusively, it gives Wilfork some freedom to look around, whereas if we had tagged him exclusively there may be more backlash from the Wilfork party.
This franchise tag keeps Wilfork on our side, but grants him some freedom. I think this shows a respect for Wilfork and, because of that respect, I think the Front Office is still trying to get a long term with Vince.
Or, because he's been non-exclusively tagged...
…this could be a smart move for the Patriots. Either Wilfork signs with us long term, or if he goes elsewhere we get 2 first round picks. I’m pretty sure any team would love to have Vince on their D-Line and I could see some team who thinks they’re one step away on defense taking the plunge and signing him.
by Richard Hill on Feb 22, 2010 1:56 PM EST up reply actions
Please let them come to a contract before he holds out
This is terrible news, I understand “business first” but Wilfork has done everything right. If we end up losing him next year it’ll be the most upset I am about a personnel screw-up since the Lawyer Milloy debacle.
Unless, of course...
…it’s a team like the Lions, Rams, Buccaneers or Redskins. That way we’ll be guaranteed two great 1st round picks.
by Richard Hill on Feb 22, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions
That's a very interesting point
I wonder if Suh’s stock just dropped a bit? Hah.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Feb 22, 2010 3:46 PM EST up reply actions
As much as we can blame Hoodie and Kraft for not getting this done, and commend Wilfork for doing everything right
we don’t know the whole story. More to the point we don’t really know ANY of the story. Wilfork said he didn’t want the best contract, just a comfortable one. That means nothing.
I speculate that Wilfork wants long term stability (4-5 years), lots of guaranteed cash, and to be able to get as fat as he likes. Who wouldn’t.
I think the Pats want a max of 4 years, a cap friendly contract, and some weight guarantees (which equals less pay for a ridiculously overweight Wilfork). BTW He is nowhere near 325 lbs. and hasn’t been since year 1.
What part are they having issues with? Length? Salary vs bonuses vs guarantees? Weight clause?
Someone has drawn a line in the sand. If it was the Pats, Wilfork would have been hit with the exclusive tag. As it is, they are just protecting their investment. Methinks Wilforks “comfortable” is a little closer to comatose, with the Pats guarateeing everything and Wilfork nothing.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Feb 22, 2010 2:25 PM EST reply actions
Hell, he should take less money.
That’s what I did — AND I can get as fat as I like!
As Mr. Sloan always says, there is no "I" in team, but there is an "I" in pie. And there's an "I" in meat pie. Anagram of meat is team... I don't know what he's talking about. --Shaun of the Dead
by JohnHannahRules on Feb 22, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
I'll take your word for it.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Feb 22, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions
if they dont sign him to a long term deal....say hello to drafting Mt. Cody
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159 mph is my top speed..will top that this spring
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
(formerly mathew.40)
why not
if we tag wilfork and dont sign him to a long term deal…its Mt Cody or that guy from Duke
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159 mph is my top speed..will top that this spring
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
(formerly mathew.40)
This Stinks
No good comes out of this, this will drive a permanent wedge between the Pats and Wilfork and make a long term deal even more unlikely. What’s more is it’s not going to be the Rams, Lions or Bucs that get would go after Wilfork, it will be the colts, Steelers or Saints that get him. Not only will our compensation diminish, our arch rivals will get better….. crappy for us.
Ugh... just Ugh...
I really hope they can reach a long term deal with the man… like they did with Viniateri…
report
I’ve been hearing that the pats did this so they can try and come up with a longer contract..
This leaves many unanswered questions on other fronts.
Wilfork’s deal is the #1 deal and other contracts (like Mankins) are on hold because of it. With the Wilfork deal now coming to the franchise tag (though he hasn’t signed it yet), does that mean they’ll move on to other free agents (likely because they didn’t wait until the deadline of the 25th)? Or does it mean that Vince’s contract is going to continue to hold everything else up?
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Feb 22, 2010 3:57 PM EST reply actions
chances of a hold out?
Hello - thanks for reading my signature. It's very interesting. Bye
by J2 on Feb 22, 2010 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
As of right now, I'd give it 10%.
Give me a couple months and ask me again….
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Feb 22, 2010 4:59 PM EST up reply actions
A lot of it is communication
He wants to feel valued and respected and not just strung along or used. If he feels he’s being treated fairly with the organization seriously looking to take care of him “properly”, he won’t hold out and there’ll be no bitter wedge between him and the team.
Keep the faith!
The non-exclusive tag is why I say 10%.
He said he didn’t want to get tagged. 10% chance he would see this tag as a slap in the face.
He still gets to test the waters (though somewhat on a leash). The Pats still get something for him, and a chance to get him back. I think there’s a 90% chance that Wilfork sees it as an above board, in his best interest move.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Feb 22, 2010 5:48 PM EST up reply actions
Patriots have until 4pm, July 15th to sign him to a multi-year contract
Since WIlfork is not under contract, he doesn’t have to show up for anything — mandatory or otherwise — and there’s no risk of incurring fines. The only real checkpoint in this regard would be that he’d have to report before the team’s 11th game, so he could play in the Patriots’ final six games, to get an accrued season toward his pension.
Keep the faith!
Also I believe if he doesn't sign the franchise offer, he would have no choice but to sit out the season.
No team would be allowed to sign him. That came up last year when Peppers was refusing to sign.
The other thing that could happen is Wilfork could sit out until the 11th week, then the Pats could pull their franchise offer before he would sign it and activate himself to play. If he didn’t find a team fast, he would lose a year of pension.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Feb 22, 2010 6:47 PM EST up reply actions
Good point
and it’s just a gut feeling, but I don’t think he’d be happy with the sitting out scenario either, especially once the pre-season and regular season started.
Keep the faith!
And not with the chance of 2011 being a bust
There’s no way the guy risks losing two years of pension, salary, etc. Although if they wait to the 11th week to cut him, I’d bet he’d be signed within two seconds, irrespective of the practicalities.
Player tampering? Never! Wilfork and his team would just come to a mutually agreeable contract within the 2 seconds since he was cut… Yeah, right.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Feb 22, 2010 11:16 PM EST up reply actions
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